Steven : Isn't it pretty obvious that the music has been super imposed onto the video clip? That action was the discretion of the maker of the video. Nothing to do with European culture. Better hear some music than hear two boring commentators talk who you can't even understand. :)

Ron: It's pretty obvious you don't get out much. I've been Euroside 3 times in the last year and you can't escape the techno, unless you're hanging out with old farts or at ex-pat joints. Oh, Thanks for the editing tip too, my 7 years of Permiere and Avid seemed to have failed me. Ne soyez pas si rapide à assumer! Connard!

If you don't like the music, mute it... The only valid point about the music, which no one has pointed out,.. is that if you don't like it and you mute it,.. then you cannot hear the riders' names when used by the commentators....

About the actual race -- I was surprised by how much all the other riders were on Boonen's jock after he won... Guess it's good sportsmanship, but they were high-fiving and ass-slapping like they were old friends finishing a sunday group ride with a friendly sprint.

Wow, this is brilliant. You and Ron must have really squeezed every last drop of brain juice to come up with this genius advice. Mute, really? Who wudda ever guessed? Why don't ya'll who are offended that somebody does not like techno take a fuckin pill and go freak out at a rave!

Is it possible to get a Eurosport feed here Stateside? I would gladly pay, so I wouldn't have to listen to old, senile Ligget miss the call every other time, and Sherwen jumping in to correct him. Not to mention all the punters who think they own the comment section of a blog. Fuckers.

I need advice! Best surprise ever = wife says I just bought tickets to Paris and we're watching Roubaix. The challenge, we have a 2.5 year old kid. Looking for people with Roubaix experience to offer me some advice. PLEASE! Thanks ahead of time. Sorry to be off topic.

Rumor has it Radio Freddy and Padraig have broken up. Sources confirm seeing them leaving an Amsterdam nightclub arguing over who is hotter, Emilia Fahlin (2008 National Road Champion of Sweden) or Tornado Tom. Guess who won?

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Belgium Knee Warmers Defined

For many professional cyclists the Spring campaign is the toughest of the season; it means training from October until March in the worst, character-building weather conditions Europe can dish out. This weather and the suffering that is bicycle racing breed characters known as "hardmen".

Select cyclists tackle these conditions in shorts, long sleeve jerseys or short sleeve jerseys with arm warmers, wind vests, and shoe covers. A true hardman opts to forego the knee or leg warmers and instead chooses an embrocation to cover the knees. The liniment provides warmth for the legs and keeps the blood circulating and muscles supple. Embrocation and the sheen created is affectionately known as "Belgium knee warmers". The hardest of cyclists will sport bare legs in the most ruthless of conditions.

Belgium Knee Warmers are indicitive of the many subtleties that make professional cycling so enthralling.

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I spent 20 years of my life working in the bicycle industry, turning wrenches and selling bikes for some of the industry's best shops. I have extensive experience designing and constructing frames in both steel and titanium and have performed thousands of bike fits. I am passionate about bicycles in all forms. The bicycle provides me with physical and mental health and taps me into a social pipeline that allows me to share my passion with others. I ride as often as possible and love the flow of a hard group ride. Check back for musings about all things road cycling and, especially, the Spring Classics. The devil is in the details and I am an expert in the useless minutia that makes up our discipline.